The problem is more locating a friend who will come out and help me work on a car.

 

While i agree with everything Fabrik8 is saying (who gives damn good tech advice), pull your starter and rig it to your battery. Yes, there is a safe way to do it. Engage the starter by way of a switch or crossing two wires. You will basically be doing what they do at advance auto but without the fancy equipment. Watch the starter gear. It may pop out, but not spin. Could be a dead spot in the starter. My car did the same thing.

 

If I were insanely wealthy, I'd just make Fabrik8 my own personal salaried employee to diagnose things with my car. I can fix most anything, but I can't diagnose to save my life.

 

Out of curiosity, it may have just been coincidence, but does it mean anything that the stater motor housing was warmer when I got under the car (after trying to crank it) than other similar metals in the same area, for instance the solenoid housing?

 

you may have a stuck starter...if you can richard ...and this involves a person also...

have someone crank the car and hit the starter with a hammer...it may have just got stuck..if it frees it up it may not do it again for years or it may not start again...but it should free it up if thats the issue...

just get a neighbor/bum/crackhead/golfer/rabbi/whore/pimp someone to turn the key..

 

The problem is it's exam time, and most of my friends are in school, and most of my neighbors are in school.

I do like that the plan is for me to hit the starter with a hammer yet the starter has a sticker on it saying "DO NOT HIT WITH HAMMER" lol.

 

like i said, pull it out and hook it up. the stuck starter is exactly what i was talking about.

 

Eh, rebuilt starter will be here Tuesday. If it's a dead spot, I'll always worry about it stranding me, plus I rather limit the amount of work I do for this. As much as I enjoy tinkering on a car, I hate repairing one, if you get what I mean.

 

well you dont have to beat it like its a red headed step child...just keeping tapping it harder until it cranks when someones turning the key it will 99% start up...

 

So...I can tap that?